Ball detent fastener with ball and socket plunger assembly



p 1962 D. w. PRICE ETAL 3,052,148

BALL DETENT FASTENER WITH BALL AND SOCKET PLUNGER ASSEMBLY Filed Jan.10, 1958 IWIA IIJ 717/ Dun v15 W. PRICE 01) Wu Z. CHA PMHN BY THE/RHTTORNEKS. HARRIS KnscH, FOSTER &HH/?RI5 3,052,148 BALL DETENT FASTENERWITH BALL AND SOCKET PLUNGER ASSEMBLY Duane W. Price and David Z.Chapman, Los Angeles, Calif assignors, by mesne assignments, to AerpatA.G., Glarus, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Jan. 1t),1958, Ser. No. 708,095 3 Claims. (Cl. 85-5) The present inventionrelates in general to fasteners, and, more particularly, to a quicklyreleasable fastening device of the type utilized to hold togethertemporarily two or more plates, or other structural elements, byinserting it into registering holes therein, a general object being toprovide an improved fastening device of this general character.

Still more particularly, the present invention contemplates a fasteningdevice which includes: a barrel having one or more radial holestherethrough adjacent one end thereof, and having adjacent the other endthereof an external shoulder which faces said one end thereof and whichserves as a stop for limiting insertion of the barrel into registeringholes in structural elements to be secured together temporarily; adetent in each of the radial holes in the barrel and movable inwardlyand outwardly therein between inner, retracted and outer, extendedpositions, each such detent projecting laterally from the barrel when inits extended position to prevent withdrawal of the barrel from theregistering holes in the structural elements through which the barrelextends; a longitudinal plunger or pin movable axially in the barrelbetween operative and inoperative positions and having means thereonadjacent one end thereof for moving the detent or detents outwardly intoits or their extended position or positions when the longitudinal pin isin its operative position; spring means engaging the barrel and thelongitudinal pin and biasing the latter toward its operative position,such spring means including a compression coil spring encircling thelongitudinal pin and seated on axially spaced internal and externalshoulders on the barrel and the longitudinal pin, respectively, whichface each other; and means for limiting axial movement of thelongitudinal pin beyond its operative position by the spring means.

With such a fastening device, the detent or detents are permitted tomove inwardly to retract same by moving the longitudinal pin axiallyinto its inoperative position in opposition to the action of the springmeans, whereupon the fastening device may be inserted into registeringholes in the structural elements to be held together temporarily, theexternal shoulder on the barrel limiting insertion of the fasteningdevice. When the longitudinal pin is released, the spring means returnsit to its operative position to extend the detent or detents, which thenprevent withdrawal of the fastening device from the registering holes inthe elements to be secured together.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a fastening device ofthe foregoing type wherein the longitudinal pin is movable axially fromits operative position to its inoperative position in opposition to theaction of the spring means by means of a button or plunger which is aseparate element from the longitudinal pin and which is disposed in andmovable axially of the barrel adjacent the opposite end of the barrelfrom the detent or detents, such plunger having an end which projectsfrom such opposite end of the barrel and having its other end seatedagainst one end of the longitudinal pin.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a plunger having alongitudinally elongated aperture which extends diametrally therethroughand which receives a transverse pin extending through the barrel tolimit movetet 3,052,148 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 ice ment of thelongitudinal pin beyond its operative position by the spring means.

Another object of the invention is to provide the end of thelongitudinal pin which is seated against the plunger with a convexsurface, the corresponding end of the plunger being concave andreceiving the convex end of the longitudinal pin.

With the foregoing construction, i.e., with a construction wherein thelongitudinal pin and the actuating plunger therefor are separateelements, the plunger and the longitudinal pin may be displaced axiallyof the barrel between the operative and inoperative positions of thelongitudinal pin without binding irrespective of manufacturinginaccuracies in the barrel, the longitudinal pin and the plunger, therebeing no necessity for maintaining precise coaxiality among thesecomponents so that greater manufacturing tolerances are permissible.Also, providing the longitudinal pin with a convex end which is disposedin a concave end of the plunger results in what amounts to aball-and-socket connection between the longitudinal pin and the plungerwhich compensates for any lack of precise coaxiality between the plungerand the longitudinal pin. Further, making the longitudinal pin and itsactuating plunger as separate elements facilitates assembly anddisassembly of the fastening device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening device whereinthe transverse pin which extends through the diametral, longitudinallyelongated aperture in the plunger projects radially from the barrel onat least one side thereof to provide a convenient finger grip foropposing the reaction of pressure applied to the projecting end of theplunger in moving the longitudinal pin from its operative position toits inoperative position in opposition to the action of the springmeans. A related object is to provide a transverse pin with a portion ofreduced diameter disposed in the aperture in the plunger and having alength at least equal to the diametral length of the aperture in theplunger, whereby the shoulders provided at the ends of thereduced-diameter portion of the transverse pin engage opposite sides ofthe plunger to tend to prevent removal of such transverse pin.

Another object is to provide a fastening device having as a finger gripfor opposing the reaction of an actuating force supplied to theprojecting end of the plunger, an annular flange adjacent the plungerend of the barrel.

Another object is to provide a finger grip for the foregoing purposecomprising a hail the ends of which are pivotally connected toprojecting ends of the transverse pin which extends through the barreland the aperture in the plunger.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the presentinvention, together with various other objects, advantages, features andresults thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art in thelight of this disclosure, may be attained with the exemplary embodimentsof the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and describedin detail hereinafter. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fastening device of theinvention being inserted into registering holes in elements to be heldtogether;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fastening device aftersuch insertion;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views respectively taken alongthe arrowed lines 33 and 44 of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of other embodiments of theinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawing, illustrated therein is afastening device 10 of the invention which is insertable throughregistering holes 12, 1-4 and 16 in plates 18, 20 and 22, or otherstructural elements, to

3 hold same together temporarily. Obviously, the device '10 may be usedwith numbers of structural elements greater or less than the specificnumber shown.

The fastening device includes a tubular barrel 24 having a convergent ortapered end 26 to facilitate insertion of the barrel into the holes 12,'14- and 16, the barrel 24 having at its other end a cylindricalenlargement or head 28 which provides an external annular shoulder30engageable with the assembly of plates 18, 20. and 22 to limit insertionof the barrel.

The barrel 24 is provided adjacent the tapered end 26 thereof with twoaligned, radial holes 32 for ball detents 34 which are movable inwardlyand outwardly between inner, retracted positions, shown in FIG. 1, andouter, extended positions, shown in FIG. 2. The detents 34 preventwithdrawal of the barrel 24 from the holes 12, 14 and 16 when in theirextended positions. Loss of the detents 34 from the holes 3-2 isprevented by peening or staking the barrel adjacent the outer ends ofthe holes, as indicated at 36.

Reciprocable in an axial bore 38 in the barrel 24 and extending into asubstantially coaxial counterbore 40 in the head 28 of the barrel is alongitudinal pin 42 having a longitudinally-arcuate reduced-diameterportion 44 adapted to receive the ball detents 34 therein to permit themto move inwardly into their retracted positions. The reduced diameterportion 44 of the longitudinal pin 42 is in register with the holes 32to permit the detents 34 to move inwardly into their retracted positionswhen the longitudinal pin is in an inoperative position, shown in FIG. 1of the drawing. When the longitudinal pin 42 is in an operativeposition, shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, an end portion 46 thereof of adiameter exceeding that of the portion 44 registers with the holes 32 tomove the detents 34 outwardly into their extended positions, the endportion 46 of the longitudinal pin thus serving as a means for extendingthe detents to prevent withdrawal of the barrel 24 from the assembly ofmembers 18, and 22.

The longitudinal pin 42 is provided within the head 28 of the barrel 24with a head '48 which provides an external annular shoulder 50 facingand spaced axially from an internal shoulder 52 on the barrel 24 at thejunction of the bore 38' and the counterbore 40. Encircling thelongitudinal pin 42 and seated on the shoulders 50 and 52 is acompression coil spring 54 which serves as a means for biasing thelongitudinal pin 42 from its inoperative position toward its operativeposition.

The head 48 on the longitudinal pin 42 is shown as providing the latterwith a convex end 56 which is seated against a concave end 58 of anactuating button or plunger 60, i.e., which is disposed in a concaverecess 62 in the end 58 of the plunger 60. The plunger has an outer end64 which projects axially from the head 28 of the barrel 24 and which isengageable by the thumb 66 of an operator to move the plunger axiallytoward the tapered end 26 of the barrel 24, thereby simultaneouslymoving the longitudinal pin 42 axially from its operative position toits. inoperative position to permit retraction of the detents 34 for thepurpose of inserting the barrel through the'holes 12, 14 and 16.

The plunger 60 is shown as provided intermediate its ends with adiametral, longitudinally elongated aperture 68 which receives'atransverse pin 70 extending through the head 28 of the barrel 24 anddisposed in aligned radial holes 72 therein. The transverse pin 70 isprovided with a reduced-diameter portion 74 disposed in the aperture 68and having a length equal tothe diametral dimension of the aperture, thereduced-diameter portion 74 having at its ends shoulders 76 which engagethe plunger 60 in the vicinities of the ends of the aperture 68 toprevent inadvertent removal of the transverse pin.

The transverse pin 70 serves the function of limiting movement of thelongitudinal pin 42 beyond its operative position, the longitudinal pinbeing in its operative position, as shown in FIG. 2, when one end of thelongitudinally elongated aperture 68 is in engagement with thetransverse pin. Similarly, the transverse pin 70 prevents movement ofthe longitudinal pin 42 beyond its inoperative position, as shown inFIG. 1, the other end of the elongated aperture 68 engaging thetransverse pin under such conditions.

The transverse pin 70 is provided with projecting portions 78 onopposite sides thereof which serve as handles 01 grips for two fingers80 of the operator to oppose the reactive force resulting fromapplication of thumb pressure to the outer end of the actuating plunger60* in moving the longitudinal pin 42 to its inoperative position topermit retraction of the ball detents 34.

It is thought that the operation of the fastening device 10 will beobvious from the drawing and the foregoing description. Briefly, theoperator grasps the fastening device 10 as shown in FIG. 1 of thedrawing with his thumb 66 and fingers 80 and moves the plunger 60inwardly sufficiently to move the longitudinal pin 42 into itsinoperative position, thereby permitting retraction of the ball detents34. The operator then inserts the tapered end 26 0f the barrel 24 intothe holes 12, 14 and 16 until the shoulder 30 engages the plate 18.Thereupon, the operator releases the fastening device so that the spring54 returns the longitudinal pin 42 to its operative position to extendthe detents 34. The fastening device 10 is now locked in place untilsuch time as it is released for removal.

It will be noted that, by making the longitudinal pin 42 and theactuating plunger 60 therefor as two separate parts, these parts cannotbind in the barrel 24 despite manufacturing inaccuracies, such ascoaxiality inaccuracies. The convex end 56 of the longitudinal pin 42and the concave end 58 of the plunger 653 provide, in effect, aball-an'd-socket joint which compensates for any deviation from precisecoaxiality.

In FIG. 5 of the drawing is illustrated a fastening device which isidentical to the device 1% except that, instead of being provided withthe transverse pin 70, it is provided with a shorter transverse pin 82the ends of which extend through the ends of a bail 94 which serves as afiinger grip. The ends of the pin 92 are preferably riveted over theends 94 of the bail loosely to permit the bail to pivot relative to thebarrel of the device 90.

Referring to FIG. 6, illustrated therein is a fastening device which isidentical to the fastening device 10 except that again a shorter pin 102is substituted for the transverse pin 71), the pin 102 being alongitudinally split, tubular pin which is locked in place by itstendency to expand circumferentially within the holes in the barrel. Thepin 182 retains an outer bushing 164 having thereon an annular flange106 at the end of the barrel which houses the plunger 60, this flangeserving as a finger grip.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosedherein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that variousminor changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated insuch embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined by the claims which follow.

We claim:

1. A fastening device comprising a barrel having first and second boreseach of a different diameter which form an interior shoulder near themiddle portion of said barrel, the smaller diameter bore portion of saidbarrel having at least one radial hole near the outer end thereof, anelongated pin mounted for free axial movement in said smaller bore, oneend of said pin extending into said larger bore and terminating in anenlarged head having a rounded top surface in the form of a convexspherical segment, said pin having a circumferential recess near theother end to provide a seat for a ball detent located in said radialhole, means on said pin for outwardly urging said ball detent partiallythrough said radial hole when brought into register therewith to fastensaid barrel in place, a loosely fitted actuating plunger axially movableWithin the larger diameter bore, means to limit the plunger movementwithin said larger diameter bore, a recess in said plunger having asurface in the form of a convex spherical segment complementary in shapeto and facing said rounded head of said pin to provide a ball and socketengagement between the complementary surfaces, spring means urging saidrounded head of said pin against the complementary recess of saidplunger whereby when said plunger is moved against the urging of saidspring means, the ball and socket engagement of the complementarysurfaces and said spring means causes an axial self centering of saidloosely fitted plunger and pin to prevent the binding thereof in saidbores.

2. In a fastening device of the type comprising a barrel having firstand second bores each of a dilferent diameter which form an interiorshoulder near the middle portion of said barrel, the smaller diameterbore portion of said barrel having at least one radial hole near theouter end thereof, an elongated pin mounted for free axial movement insaid smaller bore, one end of said pin extending into said larger boreand terminating in an enlarged head having a rounded top surface in theform of a convex spherical segment, said pin having a circumferentialrecess near the other end to provide a seat for a ball detent located insaid radial hole, means on said pin for outwardly urging said balldetent partially through said radial hole when brought into registertherewith to fasten said barrel in place, said improvement comprising aloosely fitted actuating plunger axially movable within the largerdiameter bore, means to limit the plunger movement within said largerdiameter bore, a recess in said plunger having a surface in the form ofa concave spherical segment complementary in shape to and facing saidrounded head of said pin to provide a ball and socket engagement betweenthe complementary surfaces, spring means urging said rounded head ofsaid pin against the complementary recess of said plunger whereby whensaid plunger is moved against the urging of said spring means, the balland socket engagement of the complementary surfaces and said springmeans causes an axial self centering of said loosely fitted plunger andpin to prevent the binding thereof in said bores.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means to limit themovement of said plunger comprises in combination a longitudinallyelongated aperture in said plunger and a transverse pin carried by thelarger diameter bore portion of said barrel and extending through saidplunger aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,566,023 Kuehner Dec. 15, 1925 1,572,619 Nyberg Feb. 9, 1926 2,779,228Meepas et al. Jan. 29, 1957 2,816,471 Bachman Dec. 17, 1957 2,898,797Bronstein Aug. 11, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 524,297 Great Britain Aug. 2,1940

